KOTOKURABA MARKET WILL BE CONSTRUCTED!

by April Shacklock

 

During his ‘Thank you’ Tour on Friday 17^th August 2012, President Mahama stood on the bare building plot and reassured the people of Cape Coast that Kotokuraba Market would be constructed!

The main aim of his tour was to extend his hand and thank the people of Cape Coast for their participation in the late President John Atta Mills’ funeral. Accompanying him on his ‘Thank you’ tour was Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Mike Hammah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress and Ama Benyiwa-Doe, the Central Regional Minister.

Each town welcomed the new President and his entourage in a unique way. At Kasoa, The Young Seed Academy took the President on a marching band parade through the streets to welcome him before the speeches begun. During the speeches at Kasoa women from the audience took to the floor to dance and celebrate. The President explained it was important to him to start the tour in the central region as it was the home of the late President Mills. His final stop in Cape Coast Victoria Park was the most exhilarating. It was like a colourful durbar as the chiefs of Cape Coast paraded around the square in their finest attire and entertainers pleased the crowds before the President arrived.

 

As well as thanking the people for their respect towards President Mills, President Mahama was also keen to address issues of the future which he recognises are at the forefront of society’s mind. Under a blazing sun which was baking the land dry, President John Mahama promised the traders of Kotokuraba that this land would soon be fruitful again. The Kotokuraba Market has been a subject of debate for many years now. But on Friday 17th August, we were told that the President has the paperwork for the market’s funds sitting on his desk. President Mahama said he regrets that President Mills cannot be here to sign the documents, because this was a project dear to his heart as it will completely revitalise his home community.

 

Currently, the site of the project is bare and unsightly after demolition took place to remove the old market stalls. It has looked this way for so long now that the community had lost confidence that this area would once again be a sight of business. However, as the crowds gathered to hear President Mahama’s word of assurance, the community celebrated and faith was restored into the faces of the market women. The President must have sensed pessimism in the audience as he emphasised his commitment to the project: “But I wish to assure you as your son that I will very quickly sign the documents so that the money is made available for the project to take place.”





 

With the December elections looming, it is especially important that the people believe Mahama will see this project through and at least begin construction before December 7^th. Just providing this market alone could guarantee the National Democratic Congress many votes, this is how passionate the market women of Kotokuraba are to see their market built. Elsewhere on his tour he directly addressed the December elections, appealing to the people to behave peacefully: "God will continue to be with all Ghanaians to have a peaceful and respectful election that will be admirable to all in Africa". He also asked that the other political parties steer away from defamation and insults in their upcoming campaigns to help keep the peace in Ghana during the election period. President Mahama was very gracious towards the other parties including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People's Party (CPP), People's National Convention (PNC) and the Progressive People's Party (PPP). He thanked them for their conduct during the mourning period of President Mills as they all suspended their campaigns during this time.

Another announcement which was greatly celebrated by the people of Cape Coast was about the Cape Coast Stadium. Mahama said the stadium will be built by the Chinese Government as a memorial gift to the late President Mills. The plans for the stadium are already very advanced, the Chinese government have agreed to the financing, the Ghanaian government have approved the design and soon the people of Cape Coast will be asked to join the President to cut the sod for the Cape Coast Stadium project to commence. 

It was not only these announcements which caused the crowds to ripple with excitement however, at every town he visited he was greeted with more and more excitement. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of Ghana’s new President whilst shouting their praise and cheering. The security personnel had a tough job on their hands! All the energy seemed to be positive, so it appears Cape Coast has accepted President John Dramani Mahama as their son. But the December elections will tell if the people of Ghana have the belief that he will provide the country with as much as President John Atta Mills did.

 

As the President continues his tour to the western region, then on to promoting his policies, the market traders of Kotokuraba will only be waiting for one thing, for the builders to begin work on their market.